Pot dispenser with multiple, simultaneously acting and circumposed discharge assistants



Dec. 10, 1968 R. J. BROERSMA ETAL 3,415,416

POT DISPENSER WITH MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTING AND CIRCUMPOSEDDISCHARGE ASSISTANTS Filed Oct. 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aviva/[VJ Dec.10, 1968 R.J. BROERSMA ETAL 3,415,415

POT DISPENSER WITH MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTING AND CIRCUMPOSEDDISCHARGE ASSISTANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1966 Dec. 10, 1968R.J. BROERSMA ETAL 3,415,416

POT DISPENSER WITH MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTING AND CIRCUMPOSEDDISCHARGE ASSISTANTS Filed OCT.- 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MWZNMES e05e/m 5905. 51 zia zz z? 00 Am //I W/wm/ wry/145% 1963 R.J. BROERSMA ETAL3,415,415 NG AND POT DISPENSER WITH MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTICIRCUMPOSED DISCHARGE ASSISTANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 31, 1966Mme/mew %M/ United States Patent 3,415,416 POT DISPENSER WITH MULTIPLE,SIMUL- TANEOUSLY ACTING AND CIRCUMIOSED DISCHARGE ASSISTANTS Robert J.Broersma, Spring Lake Township, Ottawa County, Peter F. Boomgaard, GrandHaven, Paul E. Droppers, Muskegan, and Donald M. Wilson, Spring LakeTownship, Ottawa County, Mich., assignors to B & B Engineering Company,North Grand Haven, Mich., a partnership of Michigan Filed Oct. 31, 1966,Ser. No. 590,804 15 Claims. (Cl. 221221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to a machine for feeding pots to a pot filling machineand particularly to a type thereof adapted for the separation of potswhich are stacked together, said machine being especially applicable tothose pots which are made from such relatively delicate materials, aspaper or compressed peat moss, that they may suffer damage as a resultof manual separation thereof.

It has for several years been common practice to sell nursery productsin containers made of relatively delicate, disintegrable materials suchas compressed peat moss or paper. This has the obvious andwell-understood advantage that such nursery products may then be placeddirectly into the ground without removal from such pot and same willdisintegrate and thereby not inhibit the growth of the plant. However,these pots are easily broken. Thus, when they are furnished to a fillingtable in stacks of sevenal thereof telescoped within each other, theyare some times separable only with difficulty and may be damaged orcompletely broken in the separating process. This is particularlyaggravated where said pots are being filled on a high-speed basis suchas by a number of people sitting on either side of an appropriatefilling table and the person assigned to separate the pots hasdifficulty keeping up with the persons utilizing same.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention include:

1) To provide a machine capable of separating stacked pots, particularlywhere same are formed of easily damaged material such as peat moss.

(2) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which can receive a reasonablenumber, such as two or three dozen, of such stacked pots and willseparate same rapidly and elficiently for successive discharge thereofto a point of use.

(3) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which, while separating saidpots rapidly and effectively, will nevertheless do so withoutappreciable, if any, damage to same.

(4) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, of efiicient and simpleconstruction as to be capable of economical manufacture as well as to becapable of long and effective use with a minimum of maintenance.

(5) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will be reliable anduniform in operation.

(6) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will be readily adjustablefor handling pots of varying sizes, varying diameters and varying axiallengths.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to personsacquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading thefollowing specification and inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view, partially broken away and partiallyin central section, of the pot dispenser according to the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIGURE 1showing the actuator mechanism in the retracted position whereby the potclamps and the stripper fingers are closed.

FIGURE 2A is a sectional view taken on the line IIAIIA of FIGURE 1 withthe parts in the same position as is FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing theactuating mechanism in an extended position whereby the pot clamps andthe stripper fingers are in an open position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 1showing the pot clamping mechanism in a closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIGURE 1 showingthe stripper fingers in a closed position.

FIGURE '6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIGURE 1showing the swing arm.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIGURE 1showing the pot catcher on a reduced scale. 7

FIGURE 8 is a top-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded view showing the assembly of the cam member foractuating the pot clamping mechanism, the pot stripper mechanism, andthe swing arm.

General description The pot dispenser according to the present inventioncomprises a frame having a cylindrical guide tube thereon for receivingand holding a plurality of stacked pots and for individually dispensingthe same. Also mounted on the frame is a scissor-like pot clampingmechanism having opposed jaws which grip the exterior of the stack ofpots for holding the same. Located directly below the clamping mechanismis a stripper mechanism having fingers which engage the upper edge ofthe lowermost pot for pushing or stripping the same away from the stackof pots. Located directly below the stripper mechanism is a swingablestop member upon which the stack of pots rests upon release of the potclamping mechanism. The pot dispensing apparatus is automaticallyoperated by means of a slideable cam member which simultaneously coactswith the pot clamping mechanism, the stripper mechanism, and theswingable stop means in the proper sequence for individually separatingand dispensing the pots. When the cam member is moved downwardly, thepot clamping mechanism is closed whereby the jaws grip and hold thecomplete stack of pots except for the lowermost one, while the stripperfingers are also caused to close and lie over the upper edge of thelowermost pot. Further downward movement of the cam member causes theswingable stop to be removed from underneath the stack of pots andcauses the stripper fingers to be pulled downwardly, thus separating thelowermost pot from the stack whereby it can then be manually removed byan operator. When the cam member is then moved upwardly, the swingablestop is again cammed into position underneath the stack of pots so as topermit the pots to rest thereon, the stripper fingers and the potclamping jaws are both opened permitting the stack of pots to fall downonto the stop member whereby they are in a position for repetition ofthe previously described cycle. In this manner by continuous up and downmovement of the movable cam member, individual pots are continuouslyseparated from the stack of pots contained in the machine and dispensedto a position whereby the operator of the machine can then manuallyremove the pot for further use.

Detailed Description In the following description, certain terminologywill be'used for convenience and reference which will be recognized forconvenience only and as not limiting. For example, the terms rightwardand leftward will refer to directions to the right or left as appearingin the drawings in connection with which said terminology is used. Theterm upward and downward will refer to directions with respect to theapparatus in its normal position and use. The terms inward and outwardwill refer to directions toward and away from the geometric center ofthe apparatus. Such terminology will also include derivatives of saidwords above mentioned as well as words of similar import.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, there is shown a frame or base 21consisting of side plates 22 and 23 which are joined together by a topplate 24 and a bottom plate 27, the plates being coupled together by anysuitable means, such as by bolts or welding. The side plates hasattached to the lower ends thereof angle supports 23 and 29 where by theapparatus can be suitably mounted either on the floor or on any othertype of table or support. The frame also has suitably connected theretoa tubular guide member 31 for receiving and guiding a stack of pots. Theupper and lower ends 32 and 33 of the tubular guide member are open, theupper end being utilized for loading the apparatus while the lower endis utilized for dispensing pots one at a time. A portion of the lowerend of the tube 31 is cut away at 34 to permit the pot clampingmechanism and the stripper finger mechanism to have access to the potsfor operation of the apparatus as will be further explained hereinafter.

Mounted on the lower portion of the machine is a swing arm 37 which isconnected to the frame of the machine by means of a screw 38 connectedto a plate 39, the plate 39 being fastened to the side plates 22 and 23and thus forming an integral part of the frame. The swing arm 37 ispivotable about the axis of the screw 38. Connected to the other end ofthe swing arm 37 is an adjustment block 41, the block 41 being connectedto the upperside of the swing arm by means of bolts or screws so as topermit ready removal thereof. As shown in FIG- URES 1 and 6, the swingarm 37 with the block 41 on the end thereof functions as a stop meansfor the stack of pots when in one position of operation, the swing armbeing pivotable outwardly away from the pots to permit the pots to passthereby.

Mounted above the swing arm is a scissor-like pot clamping mechanism 42(FIGURES l and 4) which functions to hold the stack of pots while thelowermost pot is being separated therefrom and dispensed. The potclamping mechanism contains a pair of clamping levers 43 and 44 onelever being the mirror image of the other. The clamping levers 43 and 44are connected to the frame with the aid of a cover plate 46 mountedthereabove, the cover plate 46 and the levers 43 and 44 being mounted tothe frame by means of screws 47 and 48. The screws 47 and 48 passthrough the cover plate 46 and the levers 43 and 44 into a block 49which in turn is solidly connected to the side plates 22 and 23, as bywelding. The screws 47 each function as a pivot, thus permitting theclamping levers to pivot about the axis thereof in a horizontal planerelative to the frame of the machine. The clamping ends of the levers 43and 44 are each adapted to have mounted thereon pot clamping jaws 51 and52 (FIGURE 4), the jaws being connected to the levers by means of screwsor bolts 53. The jaws each have an arcuate gripping surface 54 on theinner side thereof, the surface 54 having a diameter which conformssubstantially to the diameter of the pot being dispensed. If it isdesired to modify the machine for dispensing pots of other sizes, it isonly necessary that the jaws 51 and 52 be removed from the levers and anew set of jaws bolted thereto having a clamping surface 54 of adiameter which suitably conforms to the size of the pot to be dispensed.The other ends of the clamping levers 42 and 43 have tapered cammingsurfaces 56 formed on the inner upper edges thereof (FIGURE 3).Likewise, the lower outer edges of the clamping levers have similarcamming surfaces 57 formed thereon, the purposes of the camming surfaces56 and 57 being more fully explained hereinafter.

Located intermediate the pot clamping mechanism and the swing arm deviceis a scissor-like pot stripping mechanism 59, which mechanism functionsto separate the lowermost pot from the remainder of the stack. As shownin FIGURES 1 and 5, the stripper mechanism comprises a pair of stripperfingers 61 and 62, one finger being the mirror image of the other.Mounted on the outermost end of the fingers 61 and 62 are stripper jaws63 and 64, the jaws being bolted to their respective fingers. The inneredges of the stripper jaws 63 and 64 each have an arcuate surface 65thereon having a configuration which substantially conforms to the shapeand size of the pot being dispensed. If it is desired to adapt theapparatus for dispensing pots of other sizes, the stripper jaws 63 and64 can easily be replaced by removing the screws holding the jaws to thefingers and replacing the jaws with a new set having a configurationwhich substantially conforms to that of the pot to be dispensed.

The stripper fingers 61 and 62 are mounted between a floating plate 67and a cover plate 68 by means of bolts 69 passing through the plates 67and 68. Similarly, a pair of pivot pins 71 and 72 (FIGURE 5) passthrough the central portion of the stripper fingers 61 and 62 with theends of the pivot pins being mounted or terminating in the plates 67 and68, thus permitting the stripper fingers to be pivotable relative to theplates. The upper inner edges of the stripper fingers 61 and 6-2 haveformed thereon camming surfaces 73 on the ends of the fingers oppositethe stripper jaws. Similar camming surfaces 74 are located on the lowerouter edges of the stripping fingers spaced longitudinally thereon fromthe camming surfaces 73, the function and purpose of these cammingsurfaces being explained hereinafter.

The floating plate 67 is connected to the frame by means of a screw '77which passes through an aperture n the plate and is threadedly receivedin plate 39 which is rigidly connected to the frame 21. A small amountof clearance 78 is permitted to exist between the plate 67 and the headof the screw 77 so as to permit the plate 67 to have a limited amountof. pivotal movement in the vertlcal direction, the stripper jaws thusbeing permitted to have a limited amount of pivotal movement in avertical direction with the screw 77 acting as the pivot therefor.Mounted beneath the other end of the floating plate 67 is a compressionspring 79 which spring is contained within a cavity 82 formed within aplate 83 connected to the side plate members 22 and 23. One end of thespring 79 bears against the underside of the plate 67 while the otherend of the spring bears against the plate 83. The spring 79 thus tendsto bias the plate 67 and its associated stripper fingers 61 and 62 in anupward direction about the pivot 77. The plate 67 is also provided withan opening 31 to permit the hereinafter described camming plug 103 topass therethrough.

Located near the bottom of the apparatus is a pot catcher 84 consistingof a catch plate 86 which is connected by means of a bolt 87 to a plate88 which is a part of the frame 21. The outward end of the catch plate84 contains an arcuate opening 89 therein, which openmg is adapted toreceive the falling pot after it has been separated from the remainderof the stack by the stripper mechanism. After the pot has been caught bythe catch plate 86 it can be manually removed therefrom by the operatorand is thus ready for use. If the apparatus is to be used for widelyvarying pot sizes, the catch plate 86 can be readily removed from themachine by removing the holding bolts 87 and replacing the catch platewith a new plate having an opening 89 therein of a size suitably adaptedfor the size of the pot to be dispensed.

The actuating mechanism for opening and closing the clamping jaws andthe stripper fingers and for pivoting the swing arm comprises aslideable cam means 91 having first, second, and third cam members 92,93 and 94 (FIGURE 2) respectively. The first, second and third cammembers are rigidly connected by means of screws 97 which pass throughthe lower ends of the first and second cam members 92 and 93, whichscrews also pass through the upper end of the third cam member 94. Theupper ends of the cam members 92 and 93 are innerconnected by means of ajoining plate 98, which plate is connected to the first and second cammembers by means of bolts 99. The joining plate 98 has a centrallylocated vertical hole 101 therein which receives a cylindrical extensionor stud 102 of a camming plug 103, the camming plug 103 being rigidlyinnerconnected with the joining plate 98 by means of a screw 104threadedly received in the stud 102, the head of the screw 104 bearingon the upper surface of the joining plate 98.

Mounted on the inner or confronting surfaces of the side plates 22 and23 are vertical guideways 107 and 108 (FIGURE 8) having a generallyU-shaped configuration so as to form a vertical slot 109 therein. Thestraight vertical edges of the cam members 92 and 93 are received withinthe slot 109 for guided reciprocable movement therein. Mounted beneaththe slideable cam means 91 is a power cylinder 111 having a piston rod112 extending therefrom, the end of the piston rod having a clevis 113thereon whereby the piston rod is connected to the lower end of thethird cam member 94 by means of a pin 114 passing through alignedopenings in the clevis and cam member. Energization of the powercylinder 111 thus causes the movable cam means 91, consisting of firstcam member 92, second cam member 93, third cam member 94 and cammingplug 103, to be vertically reciprocated. The power cylinder 111 as shownis preferably a double-acting pneumatic cylinder. However, a hydrauliccylinder or any other conventional mechanical means could be utilizedfor reciprocating the movable cam means 91 if desired. Furthermore,switches (not shown) may be mounted on the frame of the machine so as tocoact with either the piston rod or the movable cam means so as tocontrol the extremities of the stroke movement.

Considering the camming plug 103 (FIGURES 1 through 3), the plug iscomposed of a plurality of stepped, preferably cylindrical, portions116, 117, 118 and 119 respectively, the stepped portions 116 and 117being joined by a tapered, preferably conical, camming portion 122 andthe portions 118 and 119 being joined by a tapered, preferably conical,camming portion 123. When the movable cam means 91 and the camming plug103 are in their extended or uppermost positions as shown in FIGURE 3,the leftward (FIGURE 1) ends of the clamping levers 43 and 44 and thestripper fingers 61 and 62 are urged by the cams 57 and 74 inwardly sothat their rightward, operating, ends are in their outward openposition. When the camming plug 103 is moved downwardly, the taperedconical camming portion 123 coacts with the tapered camming surfaces 56causing the clamping jaws to be pivoted inwardly to clamp the stack ofpots contained in the apparatus. Simultaneously with the above action,the tapered conical camming portion 122 coacts wtih the tapered cammingsurfaces 73 causing the stripper jaws to be pivoted inwardly intoengagement with the stack of pots so that the stripper jaws overlie theupper edge of the lowermost pot P in the stack. The camming plug is thuseffective to move the clamping jaws and the stripper jaws from the opento the closed positions as the plug is moved in a downward direction.

The first and second cam members 92 and 93 are effective to move thestripper and the clamping jaws from the closed to the open position whenthe movable cam means 91 is moved in upward direction.

The cam members 92 and 93 possess cam ribs 126 and 127, respectivelythereon, the cam ribs having upper straight guide portions 128 thereonwhich terminate at their lower ends in shoulders 129, the straight guideportions 128 and shoulders 129 being joined by inclined cam surfaces131. Each of the cam ribs likewise has a lower straight guide portion132 having a shoulder 133 at its upper end and a camming surface 134 atits lower end.

The movement of the cam means 91 also functions to control the pivotalmovement of the swing arm device 37. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, thefirst cam member 92 and the third cam member 94 are designed so as toform a swing lever slot 139, which slot coacts with the edges of thelever 37 for controlling pivotal movement of the lever from a firstposition under the pots to a second position outwardly from said pots asshown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6. The cam members 92 and 94 arerespectively formed with straight camming surfaces 141 and 142respectively, which surfaces are joined by tapered camming surfaces 143and 144 respectively. Downward movement of thecam means 91 from theposition show in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIG- URE 2 causes thelever 37 to be swung outwardly from underneath the pots allowing thesingle pot to be dispensed and dropped into the catch plate 86.

FIGURE 5 also illustrates a modification of the basic stripper jawstructure which has been illustrated and explained above. In somesituations, the above-described mechanism may be insufiicient toefliciently separate the lowermost pot from the stack. Furthermore, ifsuch separation does occur, the stripper jaws may cause some damage tooccur to the upper edges of the dispensed pot if the pots are verytightly stacked together. To assist in loosening the lowermost pot onthe stack, suitable reciprocably movable nozzle carriers, here themodified stripper jaws 63 and 64 shown in FIGURE 5, carry nozzles, orjet openings, 147 and 148 respectively, which openings may be suitablyconnected to a source of compressed air. The nozzles 147 and 148 arelocated adjacent the cylindrical surface 65 and are directed downwardlyso as to direct a stream of compressed air onto the upper edge of thelowermost pot and into the inner face region between the lowermost pot Pand the next pot P contained therein. In this manner, the air jetapplies a force tending to drive the lowermost pot P downwardly while atthe same time tends to inject air between the bottom two pots, thustending to loosen the pots and permitting the lowermost pot to bereadily separated. The air jets can be used to supplement the action ofthe stripper jaws if desired.

OPERATION When it is desired to operate the above-described apparatus,assuming that the power cylinder 111 and the movable cams means 91 arein their lowermost or retracted position, the operator will firstenergize the power cylinder 111 causing the movable cam means to bemoved upward to its uppermost position. When the cam means 91 is movedupwardly, the camming surfaces 131 and 134 will coact with the cammingsurfaces 57 on the clamping levers and the camming surfaces 74 on thestripper fingers respectively, causing the clamping jaws and thestripper jaws to be moved outwardly into their open positions. Saidupward movement of the movable cam means 91 will also cause the cammingsurface 143 to coact with the swing arm 37 so as to cause the swing armto move inwardly into a position whereby the block 41 will be positioneddirectly under the tubular pot guide 31. When the movable cam 91 reachesits uppermost position, the upper surface 137 of the third cam member 94will bear against the lower surface of the floating plate 67 tending topivot the stripper mechanism upwardly whereby the stripper jaws will beat an elevation slightly above the upper edge of the lowermost pot P Theoperator will then place a stack of pots into the apparatus by insertingthe stack into the machine through the upper opening 32 of the guidetube 31, the stack being allowed to drop through the tube until thelowermost pot P bears against the block 41. At this time, the machinewill be in condition for the separation and individual dispensing of thepots contained therein.

To commence a dispensing operation of the apparatus, the operator willenergize the power cylinder 111 in the downward direction causing themovable cam means 91 to be moved downwardly. Downward movement willcause the tapered conical camming surface 123 on the plug 103 to coactwith the camming surfaces 56 on the clamping levers, thus causing theclamping levers to move from an open to the closed position as shown inFIGURE 4. The clamping jaws 51 and 52 will thus be brought intoengagement with the external surfaces of several pots contained in thestack. Due to the over-all width of the clamping jaws, the jaws willmake contact with several pots, thus distributing the load over aconsiderable area and thus not applying any harmful force to the pots.The clamping jaw is positioned such that it will clamp onto the secondlowermost pot P and will also clamp onto several pots locatedthereabove. The lowermost pot P will not be contacted by the clampingjaws. While the above-clamping action is taking place, the downwardmovement will also cause the tapered conical camming surface 122 to bebrought into contact with the tapered camming surfaces 73 on thestripper arms 61 and 62, thus causing the stripper jaws 63 and 64 to beswung inwardly into the closed position shown in FIGURE 5. The stripperjaws will be swung inwardly into a relationship whereby they will beadjacent the periphery of the second lowermost pot P with the lowersurface of the jaws overlying the upper edge of the lowermost pot PContinued downward movement of the cam means 91 will cause the cammingsurface 144 to contact the edge of the swing arm 37 causing the swingarm to pivot outwardly from beneath the tubular pot guide 31, the stackof pots being now held solely by the clamp jaws 51 and 52. Furtherdownward movement of the cam means 91 will cause the shoulders 133 tocome into contact with the upper edge of the stripper fingers 61 and 62,thus causing the entire stripper mechanism to be pivoted downwardlyabout the pivot 77. The downward pivotal movement of the strippermechanism will cause the lower surfaces of the stripper jaws 63 and 64to come into contact with the upper edge of the lowermost pot P thusapplying a force on the pot in a downward direction and causing the potto separate from the stack. Upon separation, the pot P will freely fallinto the opening 89 of the catch plate 86 whereby it can be manuallyremoved by the operator and is thus ready for utilization. The movablecam means will have then reached its lowermost or retracted position andthe cycle will be complete.

To begin a new cycle, the power cylinder 111 will again be energized inthe upward direction causing the movable cam means to move upwardlywhereby the stripper jaws and the clamping jaws will be cammed outwardlyinto an open position by the cams 134 and 131 respectively. However,before the above jaws are cammed into the open position, the swing arm131 will be cammed inwardly by the cam surface 143 so that the blockmember 41 is' positioned beneath the bottom surface of the lowermostpot. Thus, when the clamping jaws are released and swung into their openposition, the pots will drop onto the block member 41. Continued upwardmovement of the movable cam means 91 will cause the surface 137 to bearagainst the plate 67 of the stripper mechanism causing it to pivotupwardly by an amount sufficient to cause the stripper jaws to be at anelevation above the edge of the lowermost pot and thus being in aposition to grip the pot and cause separation thereof from the stackwhen the movable cam means is again moved downwardly.

If desired, limited switches can be utilized to control the strokeextremities of the movable cam means so as to cause automatic recyclingof the power cylinder whereby the apparatus will automatically andcontinuously separate and dispense the pots after the machine has beeninitially put into operation.

It will be recognized that by this mechanism a single operator canseparate a large number of pots in a relatively short time with theminimum amount of damage to the pot structure. Furthermore, theseparation operation requires a minimum amount of operator supervisionsince the machine, after being put into operation, will continue toautomatically and continuously dispense the pots without the aid of anyoperator control.

Further, the machine described is of low cost to build and to maintain.The machine contains only simple linkages which require little expensivemachining and are of very simple operation and therefore dependabilityof operation is ensured. Furthermore, only a minimum number of powermechanisms is used, therefore requiring very little maintenance.

By making said camming plug of circular cross section, as aboveindicated to be preferred, same can be rotated to compensate for wear ofits cam surfaces without change in the operation of the equipment. Wearon the cam surfaces 56 or 57 of the gripping levers 43 and 44 can becompensated by grinding down the surfaces 51a and 52a of the jaws 51 and52 (or by grinding the opposed and contacting surfaces of the levers 43and 44).

The machine described is furthermore well adapted for varying sizes ofpots since the stripper jaws and the clamping jaws can be easily andreadily interchanged so as to be adaptable to various pot sizes. Thischange can be made with a minimum amount of effort since only the jawshave to be replaced, the remainder of the machine being basically thesame and operating in exactly the same manner. Furthermore, if desired,the machine could be made completely automatic by locating a conveyorunderneath the tubular pot guide so that the pots, when separated anddispensed, will be deposited into the conveyor and automaticallyconveyed to a new work location, thus requiring no manual supervision orefiort on the part of a machine operator and thus permitting the machineto operate completely automatically.

Although a particular preferred embodiment has been described forillustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations ormodifications of such disclosure which lie within the scope of theappended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

said clamping means having a pair of jaws which are engageable onsubstantially opposite sides of the periphery of pots contained in saidstack, at least one of said jaws being movable from an open position outof engagement with said pots to a closed position in clamping engagementwith at least One of said pots;

said separating means including a pair of fingers engageable with theupper edge of the lowermost pot, the separating means being mounted onsaid frame so as to permit pivotal movement of said fingers in a firstplane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis formed by saidstack while also permitting pivotal movement of said fingers in a secondplane substantially transverse to said first plane; and

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus.

2. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus; saidclamping means including a pair of levers pivotably mounted on saidframe, each of said levers having a jaw mounted at one end thereof forengagement with the outer peripheral surface of said pots, said leversbeing controlled by said actuating means for opposed synchronousmovement from an open position to a closed position, said jaws in saidopen position being substantially spaced from said pots while in saidclosed position being in engagement therewith on substantially oppositeperipheral sides thereof;

said separating means including a pair of levers each having a finger atone end thereof engageable with the upper edge of the lowermost pot forseparating same from the stack, said levers being pivotably mountedrelative to the frame and controlled by said actuating means for opposedsynchronous movement between a first position wherein the fingers arespaced from the periphery of said pots and a second position wherein thefingers are positioned adjacent the periphery of said pots;

stop means for maintaining said stack of pots in position when theclamping means is released, said stop means being movable from a firstposition wherein the stop means is located beneath the bottom surface ofthe lowermost pot to a second position spaced from said pots so as topermit the lowermost pot to be dispensed from the apparatus; and

said actuating means including a reciprocable cam means, movement ofsaid sam means in one direction causing said clamping jaws to be cammedto said closed position and said fingers and said stop means to be movedto their respective second positions, movement of the reciprocable cammeans in the other direction causing the fingers and the stop means tobe moved to the respective first positions and the clamping jaws to bemoved to their open position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said separating means is mounted tosaid frame for pivotal movement in a second plane substantiallytransverse to a plane defined by the pivotal movement of said fingersfrom said first to said second positions, said separating means and saidfingers being moved in said second plane so as to engage an upper edgeof the lowermost pot and separate the same from the stack when theactuating means moves in said one direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the reciprocable cam means has afirst cam member for controlling the movement of the clamping means, theseparating means and the stop means when the reciprocable cam means ismoved in said one direction; and a second cam member for controlling themovement of said clamping means,

separating means and stop means as said reciprocable cam means is movedin said other direction.

5. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

said clamping means having a pair of jaws which are engageable onsubstantially opposite sides of the periphery of pots contained in saidstack, at least one of said jaws being movable from an open position outof engagement with said pots to a. closed position in clampingengagement with at least one of said pots;

said separating means having a pair of'levers mounted on said frame forpivotal movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to alongitudinal axis formed by said stack of pots, each of said levershaving a stripper finger mounted adjacent one end thereof with saidstripper fingers being positionable above and engageable with the upperedge of the lowermost pot for permitting same to be separated from saidstack; and

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus, saidactuating means including a reciprocable cam means for controlling theoperation of said separating means, said reciprocating cam meanscoacting with said stripper levers for positively camming said stripperfingers from a first inner position wherein said stripper fingers arespaced substantially adjacent the periphery of said pots and overlie theupper edge of the lowermost pot in the stack to a second outer positionwherein the stripper fingers are spaced radially outwardly from theperiphery of the upper edge of said pots.

6. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

said clamping means having a pair of jaws which are engageable onsubstantially opposite sides of the periphery of pots contained in saidstack, at least one of said jaws being movable from an open position outof engagement with said pots to a closed position in clamping engagementwith at least one of said pots;

said separating means having a pair of fingers engageable with the upperedge of the lowermost pot for separating same from said stack, saidseparating means being mounted on said frame so as to permit pivotablemovement of said fingers in a first plane substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis formed by said stack while also permittingmovement of said fingers in a second plane substantially transverse tosaid first plane; and

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus, saidactuating means including a reciprocable cam member for controlling theclamping means and the separating means;

said reciprocable cam member having a shoulder means formed thereonadapted to engage said pair of fingers when said fingers are positionedsubstantially adjacent the periphery of said pots and overlying theupper edge of the lowermost pot, downward movement of said reciprocablecam member causing said shoulder means to contact said pair of fingers,which pair of fingers are then moved substantially vertically downwardlyinto engagement with the upper edge of the lowermost pot whereupon thelowermost pot is separated from the stack.

7. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus;

said clamping means including a pair of clamping levers pivotablymounted on said frame, each of said clamping levers having a clampingjaw mounted at one end thereof with said pair of jaws being engageableon substantially opposite sides of the periphery of pots contained insaid stack, said levers being controlled by said actuating means foropposed synchronous movement from an open position out of engagementwith said pots to a closed position wherein said jaws are in clampingengagement with at least one of said pots;

said separating means having fingers engageable with the upper edge ofthe lowermost pot for esparating same from said stack; and

said separating means further including a pair of opposed nozzlecarriers mounted for approach-andretract movement relative to said frameand a pressure fluid nozzle on each of said carriers movable by saidcarriers from a first position wherein the nozzle carriers are spacedfrom the periphery of said pots to a second position wherein the nozzlecarriers are spaced substantially adjacent the periphery of said potsand overlie the upper edge of the lowermost pot in the stack forassisting in removing the lowermost pot from the stack.

8. A pot dispensing apparatus for separating and dispensing individualpots, in particular delicate nursery pots, from a stack thereof, saidapparatus comprising:

a frame, said frame being adaptable to receive a stack of pots therein;

dispensing means mounted on said frame and including clamping means forholding the stack of pots and separating means for removing thelowermost pot from the stack;

actuating means for controlling the dispensing means so as to permitindividual pots to be separated and dispensed from the apparatus;

said clamping means including a pair of clamping levers pivotablymounted on said frame, each of said levers having a clamping jaw mountedat one end thereof, said levers being controlled by said actuating meansfor opposed synchronous movement from an open position out of engagementwith said pots to a closed position wherein said jaws are in clampingengagement with at least one of said pots on substantially oppositesides of the periphery thereof;

said separating means including a pair of stripper levers each having astripper finger adjacent one end thereof, said pair of stripper leversbeing mounted on said frame so as to permit pivotable movement of saidfingers in a first plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis formed by said stack while also permitting movement of said fingersin a second plane substantially transverse to said first plane, saidStripper fingers being controlled by said actuating means for opposedsynchronous movement whereby said fingers are moved from a firstposition wherein the fingers are spaced from the periphery of said potsto a second position wherein the fingers are spaced substantiallyadjacent the periphery of said pots and overlie the upper edge of thelowermost pot in the stack for permitting same to be separated from saidstack; and

said actuating means including a reciprocable cam means for controllingsaid clamping means and said separating means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said reciprocable cam means includesa reciprocable cam member coacting with said clamping means and saidseparating means for positively camming said clamping jaws from saidclosed to said open position and for positively camming the stripperfingers from said second to said first position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said reciprocable cam means coactwith said clamping means and said separating means for positivelycamming said clamping jaws from said open to said closed position andfor positively camming the stripper fingers from said first to saidsecond position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further including stop means movablebetween first and second positions, said stop means in said firstposition holding said stack of pots in said apparatus when the clampmeans is in said open position, said stop means in said second positionpermitting the separated pot to be dispensed from the apparatus; saidreciprocable cam means coacting with said stop means whereby said stopmeans is positively cammed from said first position to said secondposition when said reciprocable cam means is moved in a first direction,said stop means being positively cammed from Said second position tosaid first position when said reciprocable cam means is moved in theopposite direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said reciprocable cam meansincludes a reciprocable cam member for controlling said clamping meansand said separating means, said cam member having first and secondsimilar portions positioned on opposite sides of both said pair ofclamping levers and said pair of stripper levers, said cam memberfurther having a third portion positioned between both said pair ofclamping levers and said pair of stripper levers, said portions coactingwith said clamping levers and said stripper levers for moving same whensaid reciprocable cam member is moved.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said actuating means furtherincludes a fluid pressure cylinder interconnected to said reciprocablecam means for linearly reciprocating same.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said clamping jaws are detachablymounted on said clamping levers and wherein said stripper fingers aredetachably mounted to said stripper levers, said clamping jaws and saidstripper fingers thus be readily interchangeable.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus contains a stack ofdelicate and disintegrable nursery pots therein having no top rimsthereon, said clamping jaws havi arcuate clamping surfaces thereon of aconfiguration substantially similar to the periphery of said pots, saidclamping surfaces being elongated in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of said stack of pots whereby said clamping jaws uniformly clamp aplurality of pots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,148 3/1932 Mojonnier 22l236X 1,963,621 6/l934 Geyer 22l22 2,385,267 9/1945 Franz 22 l236 X (Otherreferences on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTSDrese 221 -278X 262,332 12/1926 Great Britain.

Farber 221-221X 38,116 5/1936 Netherlands.

Prick 221-223 Cheeley 221 .223 X 5 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.Carter 61', a1. 221251 X US CL X R Amie 221-251 X Gass et a1. 221 221 X221436 Cease 221--13

